Law and History Major (B.A.)

The Department of History is pleased to offer a major in law and history. Students who plan to practice in almost any area of law, as well as those interested in the academic study of legal history, have much to gain from a law and history major. The study of law in historical, philosophical, and literary contexts provides a rich foundation for both practice and scholarship in all fields of law. The major is a humanities-based program about law rather than vocational training in law. Recognizing the critical role that law plays in society, students in legal studies examine the ways people in different cultures and historical periods have used the law and understood its purposes. The program also offers students a chance to examine the law and its relationship to the larger world of social movements, economic change, political upheaval, and intellectual trends-all within a liberal arts context. Courses focus on several areas of humanities-based study, as recommended by the American Bar Association (ABA): A broad understanding of history, a fundamental understanding of politics, a basic understanding of human behavior and social interaction, and an understanding of diverse cultures within and beyond the United States, of international institutions and issues, of world events, and of the increasing interdependence of the nations and communities within our world. Students will work with an advisor in the history department to select general education courses, major courses, and electives which will prepare them to benefit fully from a challenging legal education. Students are required to complete a Legal Studies Internship (HIST 471 ).